WEST GAIT EQUINE LEARNING CENTER

  Teaching, Training, and Trail Riding Paso-Pleasure Naturally Gaited Horses       

 

DON & MARIA WEST ---co-owners/operators

 offering

 Paso-Pleasure Naturally Gaited Horses
    (Mountain Pleasure Horse Stallion "Big Red" over Peruvian Paso Mares)

NATURALLY GAITED PLEASURE/TRAIL HORSES THAT ARE  

"beautiful to behold, smooth to ride, and easy to handle"

HERD REDUCTION SALE

DUE TO ADVANCING AGE

AND SHRINKING STRENGTH

WE'RE FORCED TO FIND

 CAPABLE-LOVING HOMES

FOR MOST OF OUR WONDERFUL 

 PASO PLEASURE NATURALLY GAITED HORSES.

 REASONABLE OFFERS

FROM FINANCIALLY CAPABLE BUYERS (please)

 WILL BE RESPECTFULLY CONSIDERED.

Dear Potential Paso-Pleasure Gaited Horse Owner,  

Anyone who knows us knows that we love our horses. Over the years, Maria, my wife, and I have made many sacrifices in our personal lives, placing our own needs second to our horses' health and well being. For over thirty years my home bred Appaloosa, then Peruvian Paso, and now Paso-Pleasure Horses have been my pride, my joy, and my passion. They've also been my occupation.  They're the cornerstone of all our other enterprises. However, like everything else in life, there's a time to grow, and a time to let go. Now that "letting go time" has come for me as a horse breeder. As the sages say: "To everything turn, turn, turn. There is a time to every purpose under heaven". I've sold my Mountain Pleasure Horse stallion, "Big Red", and all my fine Peruvian Paso brood mares. I'm out of the horse breeding business forever. My desire now is to see most of these wonderfull horses go to good, capable, loving homes, and to use my remaining time and energy to help people who want to learn how to handle, ride, appreciate, and enjoy trail riding naturally gaited horses... the things that I've learned through the seat of my pants, in the school of hard knocks, from my many, many horses, over all these wonderful years.

I started my career as a "bronk stomper" with Appaloosa Horses. Then, when they wern't making enough money to make ends meet, I switched breeds. For over twenty years I bred pure blood Peruvian Paso Horses. At the height of my breeding program I was standing three P.P. stallions and producing twelve to sixteen foals a year. In those early years, Peruvian Pasos were selling for a price that allowed me a nice profit for my work. I bought a 2 year old colt named Granadero for $25,000.00, syndicated him as a stallion for $400,000.00, and sold 1/40th ownership shares in him for $10,000.00....hard to believe now, but never the less, true! Then the government changed the tax laws. Almost overnight, the pleasure-trail horse market went into a tail spin; selling prices went down, and the production costs went up until there was no more profit. That's when I started thinking about out-crossing, and producing my own breed of pleasure-trail riding horses'; horses that would better suite my own personal needs, and those of my mostly middle aged clients. I've always appreciated the bred-in quality of fine gait (pisos) that Peruvian Pasos are rightly so famous for. They truly are “the world’s smoothest riding horse”. But I wanted to produce horses that were stronger, more rugged, with an easier going, more friendly, laid back personality. Still, I wanted to keep that managable energy and that un- matched Peruvian Paso "paca paca" four-beat gait.

The horse I chose to cross my fourth and fifth generation Peruvian Paso mares with was a Mountain Pleasure Horse stallion from Kentucky named Goldfinger's Star. He was the designated Kentucky State Flag Bearing Horse! I was so pleased with the results that I searched for, and found my own Mountain Pleasure Horse colt, "Big Red". Mountain Pleasure Horses are real “usin’ horses” from the hills and hollers’ of Eastern Kentucky. They’ve been bred there for centuries to be used for riding, plowing, or pulling. They are the foundation horse for Rocky Mountain Horses. They have a real “people pleasing'” personality to go along with their strength and versatility. Combining the Mountain Pleasure Horse (top side) with my Peruvian Paso mares has given me the best qualities of both horses. Over the past ten years I have produced what I believe are the best naturally gaited pleasure-trail riding horses that I have ever had! I call them "Paso-Pleasure Horses". When you ride them, you'll call them "WONDERFUL!".

Now you can cash in on the many years of dedication and hard work. Come ride with me! Ride all the horses I'm offering while you learn the skills I teach . If you find a horse that you like, and if the horse likes you and you are able to care for and love the horse in the manner to which it has become used to, perhaps we can make a deal.  Call me if you’re interested. I'm always happy to "talk horses"... especially gaited horses.

Serious offers will be seriously considered. I reserve the right to change prices, back out of deals, or just plain change my mind about anything, at any time. A "Deal" isn't a deal until a contract is signed. I've got some really wonderful gaited trail riding horses, and I want them to go to people who will appreciate them and can care for them. Want to try them out? Then click on Come Ride With Me, and try them out for yourself. I think you'll love 'em!                                      Happy trails, Don West  

            MY BELOVED MOUNTAIN PLEASURE HORSE STALLION "BIG RED"    

Paul's Hardcopy a.k.a. "Big Red", 05/01/99,   Bush's Stardust x Trixie, 15.3 hand, copper chestnut stallion. Big, bold, handsome, charismatic, but gentle, and friendly, too. A joy to ride, easy to handle, a real pleasure-trail horse. Big Red is the father of my Paso-Pleasure Horses. Red has been retired from breeding, has gone to a good home, and has a new life as a happy gelding. I will always have fond memories of Big Red as my last, and best stallion. What a wonderful horse to end a breeding career with! Thank's Big Red! You were the best! SOLD to my good friend Barry. Best wishes for happy trailes to you both. Don

 

   

 PASO PLEASURE GELDINGS

 

Champion, a.k.a. "Champ" 04/20/05, Paul's Hardcopy x Cidra del Oeste. A dark red chestnut with a star, blaze, and snip, and front left pastern and half stockings both rear. A friendly personality, with plenty of get up and go.  My current trail horse.

  Dancer 06/08/05, Paul's Hardcopy x Salsa del Oeste. A roan palomino, with socks on both rear pasterns. My tallest horse, but with medium build, more refined, much like his mother. Dancer is friendly, calm, and willing, as well as beautiful. Heis easy out on the trail and has been riden by a customer on a back country trip. A great trail companion!
  Walker 05/15/05, Paul's Hardcopy x Cindy del Oeste. A lighter colored palomino, with a star, strip, and large snip, and two white stockings in the rear. A stockier built horse, just like his mother, he is strong, gentle and friendly. He has a good, quick gait, and is great fun out on the trail. SOLD to my amigo Dennis
  Cody 00/00/06, Paul's Hardcopy x Natalia del Oeste. Cody is sorrel with a long, wavy flaxen mane and tail. He has a star, strip, and snip, and right rear pastern. He's a real cutie pie. Not much over fourteen hands, he is well built, strong, and gaits well. He is friendly and personable, and will make someone a great friend. In bit.
Prince Charming, a.k.a. "Prince"   04/17/07
Prince Charming 04/17/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Cidra del Oeste. Prince is a sorrel with flaxen mane and tail. He has a star, strip, and snip, and a left rear half pastern. He looks like Champion, his full brother, only he has only one white stocking. He has the same energy and pride in himself, and already stands his own in wrestling matches with Cody. He is really going to be a good one! He is started under saddle and is doing great.


PASO PLEASURE MARES & FILLIES

 

 

  Sassy Sally 07/08/02, Paul's Hardcopy x Natalia del Oeste. Sassy is a red roan with a small star and left rear pastern. With a thick, long mane and tail, this mare is strong, well proportioned, and has a nice, short back. With her eye-catching color, aristocratic personality, and good-gait, everyone who sees her likes her, and picks her out in the herd to ask about. A great pleasure-trail horse with lots of get up and go in her. She's got great conformation. I've taken her on numerous overnight horse camping trips, and she handles the roughest trails in style. In bit.

 

  Canella, 05/13/03, Paul's Hardcopy x Cidra del Oeste. Wow! Drop dead beautiful red chestnut (sorrel) mare with star blaze and strip, a sock on the right rear and pastern on left rear. With a thick, long, wavy, flaxen mane and tail, she's a real eye catching show stopper! Miss Personality -- full of charisma... and lots of energy and fun to ride. A great riding, people pleasing, pleasure-trail horse. Miss pretty, she has more of an Arabian shaped head! She has carried me on a number of back country extended overnight camping trips. She does it all... and with style. In bit.

 

  Susie Q 06/12/04, Paul's Hardcopy x Salsa del Oeste. Susie is a red chestnut (sorrel) mare with a star and strip. She has a half stocking on both rear legs. Long, wavy mane and tail. Super well gaited. Super friendly. Lots of personality, and easy to get along with. Beautifully built, she is one of our best all around mares. You can't help but fall in love with this horse! I love riding her, and I know she'll make someone a wonderful pleasure-trail companion. In bit.  

 

 

Fancy 00/00/06, Paul's Hardcopy x Fantasia.  Fancy is a dark chestnut filly with a dark mane and tail. She has a star, a  front left sock, and right rear half stocking. She is built like her mother, more like a Peruvian Paso than a Mountain Pleasure Horse. She has a very refined show quality look about her. She is strong, willing, and her gait is fantastic!. She is friendly, and handles well on the ground, too. She is doing great out on the trail. In bit.

Goldilocks, a.k.a. "Goldie"   04/16/07

Goldilocks 04/16/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Star Bright. Goldie is a big palomino, 3/4 Mountain Pleasure Horse filly. She has a star, strip, and small snip, as well as aright rear pastern and left rear half stocking. She is very friendly, gaits beautifully, and is built strong and solid. She is drop dead beautiful, full of fun and energy, and will make some lucky person a great riding horse.

 

Princess Leah 05/19/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Lucinda del Oeste. Leah is big girl, just like her mother. She is a dark chestnut with a star and left rear pastern. She is really sweet, but a little shy. She will be perfect for someone who wants a beautiful, friendly, smooth riding trail horse.                                                
Cinderella 06/02/07, Paul's Hardcopy x Mistica del Oeste. Cinder is a cute little, solid built, liver chestnut bundle of joy. She has a front left coronet and a left rear pastern. She is so friendly, she wants to get into your pocket! She will make some lucky (small) person a real companion horse. And, she gaits!

If you are interested in finding out more about these fantastic "beautiful to behold, smooth to ride, and easy to handle" Paso-Pleasure Horses call me at 970-858-7739.  The horses listed above were all born, raised, and trained right here at West Gait Equine Learning Center, with gentle, loving, and knowledgeable care. Given the reality of  today's horse market we expect to make no profit on our investment of time and money in them. In fact, we know that we will be selling every horse at an out-of-pocket loss. It costs money to feed and care for horses. So, our asking prices are based on the horses age more than the amount of training and trail riding time they have on them. If you can't afford to cover the out of pocket expenses needed to raise a well bred, well fed, well treated, and well trained trail riding horse, then you probably can't afford the feed, the shelter, the saddle and tack, the farrier, the vet, and the truck and trailer you'll need to go along with owning them. I know, that may sound like tough talk. But I love these horses, and I want to make sure that they go to someone who will love them and care for them as I have. Don West

REASONABLE OFFERS WILL BE RESPECTFULLY CONSIDERED

 

Our horses run wild and free most of the time, making for happy, healthy, strong horses... and shaggy coats in the winter.

To find out all about West Gait Equine Learning Center please click on

West Gait Equine Learning Center
1760 Broadway Grand Junction, CO 81503

Phone: (970) 858-7739 Fax: (970) 858-7861

e-mail: donwest@wic.net 

Last Updated -- January, 2011

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